Now that is far fetched. I knew people who served in Aden.
I haven't watched Gunpowder as I knew beforehand it was very graphic, and as I know the history of persecutions by both sides, I didn't think it was 'entertainment'.
It's one specific person, the Papal Legate, Cardinal Pole who encourage Queen Mary to persecute the Protestants.
http://www.historylearningsite.co.uk/tudor-england/the-church-1553-to-1558/
The 17 Protestant martyrs were burned in barrels in Lewes...